Bottega Italia — Restaurant in Temecula

Wasn’t at all impressed and honestly, pretty disappointed. Came here for dinner with my sister and friends and had heard great things so I was excited to try this place out. We started with espresso martinis and they were great, $18 for a martini was a little steep but the usual for Temecula & they were delicious so I didn’t mind at all. We got the burrata, the grilled rapini and the grilled octopus for appetizers. Burrata was great, octopus was good but very tough. I’ve had grilled octopus before that was incredibly tender so it was def a bummer. The rapini was horrible- it was very bitter. There’s a proper way to make it to bypass that extreme bitterness so I’m guessing they had issues with blanching it, not sure. The main courses we ordered were the carbonara, the gnocchi and the rollatine alla mirella. Both carbonaras were so bad they were inedible. They didn’t temper the eggs correctly, the pancetta was very pungent and the entire dish was so, so salty. The people at our table who ordered it sent it back. The gnocchi was interesting.. instead of a doughy potato gnocchi they made theirs very dense with ricotta. On top of that they drowned it in a Gorgonzola sauce that was so thick it resembled a Mac & cheese. It was supposed to come with walnuts but came with 3 small pieces that were barely noticeable. The worst part was that it was supposed to be topped with a balsamic reduction which would’ve been great to cut through the intense/ dense richness of the dish but they forgot to put it on so all I had was a very cheesy sauce that was beginning to separate. By the time I noticed and called the waitress over to ask about it I was kind of over it. I was also disappointed that she didn’t really acknowledge the mistake or offer anything to rectify the situation, a lot like the carbonara. Then to make matters worse the eggplant dish came with hard angel hair pasta that seemed like it had been sitting out/ finished before the other dishes and kept to the side to wait for the other dishes to be ready. Also, it seemed to be missing the bechamel (either that or there was so little it was unnoticeable). The restaurant did take the carbonaras off the bill (which was the least they could do considering both people didn’t take more than 2 bites) but when my friends timidly admitted to not liking it the waitress was less than understanding. She questioned if they had ever had carbonara before and if they knew what it was supposed to taste like. Whether she meant it as rude or not, it came out very condescending. My friends had wanted to speak up and tell her the truth- that they had just come back from Italy and knew first hand what authentic carbonara is supposed to taste like but they stayed quiet and just apologized for the inconvenience (which shouldn’t have been done on their part). In the end, it was over priced (meal came out to $245 for two main dishes, some drinks And appetizers. The whole experience was reminiscent of a restaurant I used to go to named “Oakfire”… 😂 lacking & overpriced , but if you like pizza I heard...

Recently, I had the privilege of dining at Bottega Italia, and I can confidently say it was an experience that outshone many others. A sanctuary for Italian cuisine lovers, this restaurant offered an experience that was as pleasing to the palate as it was to the eye.

Our culinary journey at Bottega Italia began with a well-executed pasta dish and a freshly-prepared salad. The pasta, in particular, was truly a masterclass in Italian cooking—cooked to al dente perfection, it was served with a sauce that exuded a robust richness, indicative of the finesse in the kitchen. The salad, on the other hand, was a testament to the restaurant's commitment to using fresh ingredients. It was bursting with flavor, each bite offering a refreshing crunch that provided an ideal balance to the pasta.

Now, onto the pizzas – a standout in a sea of delicious options. The pizza at Bottega Italia was a harmony of flavors and textures. The dough was superb - light, chewy, and with just the right amount of char. The toppings were generous and fresh, demonstrating a keen eye for quality ingredients. Truly, it was some of the best pizza I've had the pleasure of enjoying.

As for the ambiance, Bottega Italia sets a high bar. The restaurant carries an undeniable charm with a warm, welcoming atmosphere that effortlessly transports you to the heart of Italy. The delicate balance of casual comfort with an air of refined elegance truly enhanced the dining experience.

The staff at Bottega Italia was nothing short of exemplary. Their attentiveness and professionalism were apparent throughout the meal, and their knowledge about the menu was impressively comprehensive. It is clear that customer satisfaction is a top priority for the team.

Cleanliness was another area where Bottega Italia shined. The restrooms, in particular, were maintained to an excellent standard, reflecting the overall attention to detail that was prevalent throughout the restaurant.

Lastly, considering the outstanding quality of the food, the ambiance, and the service, the prices at Bottega Italia were pleasantly reasonable. It was clear that value was as important as the quality to the team behind the restaurant.

In conclusion, Bottega Italia offered an exquisite dining experience with delectable pasta, fresh salad, and exceptional pizzas, all served in a delightful setting, supported by highly professional staff, and at prices that offer undeniable value for money. I recommend Bottega Italia to anyone seeking an authentic Italian...

Although the food was good, the service was so so, and the cost as it relates to the portion size was way off. I spent a lot of money and left extremely hungry.. I had to go and eat some Nachos Afterwords to feel satisfied, lol . I ordered the bruschetta for the starter, and I must say the bread ( focaccia dough ) was amazing, but you only got 4 small pieces , with eight $99 cent store Cherry tomatoes cut in half with a little Basil, aka bruschetta was the smallest appetizer I have ever seen, and the $14 cost was outrageous. For the main course I ordered the buttersquash ravioli, which I thought on a scale of 1-10 a 7.5 which is decent, “no bread was given with the Pasta as a filler which I thought was strange. Also what I didn’t like was the size of the ravioli. They were the size a little bigger then a nickel( very small) and the meal consisted of maybe 10 ravioli’s in total, and this cost $18.

I ordered a sangria from the bar and it came in a small skinny glass with barely any alcohol in it, it was more like a really good juice. and yes I enjoyed the flavor of the drink, but the $14 cost was way to high. So in total I spent $50+ dollars after tipping, left hungry, the servers keep coming up to us asking to remove our plates with food on it, “note there wasn’t very much food in the first place”, I was trying to cherish It since the portion was so small, as if they were ready for me to leave. So the overall experience I give this restaurant on a scale of 1-10 is a 5, due to the small portions, the outrageous prices, no bread as a fuller for the Pasta dishes, and poor alcohol to juice ratio in the sangria.

The focaccia bread is to die for, really delicious, ordered on the side with the cost of $7 is worth...